The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-12-28
DIRECTOR HOLMAN'S VIEWS
He Talks About the Present Outlook for
the Next Political Campaign.
He Blames Civil Service for the Democratic
Defeat, but Thinks 1t Will be Permanent
Feature of Government Employment.

Hon. VIM. S. Holman reached the city
last night from Washington. He came
on legal business. and will for a day or
two be engaged in a suit in the United
States Court. The political situation. he says,
is attracting less attention at the capital than
here. 81 find politics in this State quite active"
he continued. ''You have more talk about can
didates and issues in Indianapolis than We do in
Washington. l have not known a time for
years when the papers on both sides were so az
gressve. 1t means that the contest will be
sharp. and that both parties will go into it with
all the energy and vim they can arouse. Lastyear,
you know off year for the Indiana Dem
ocrats. They never experienced this before,
and the result came upon them like cyclone
But think they are over-confident to the
coming campaign. This is particularly true as
to New York. New Jersey and Connecticut 1t is
possible that Indiana may be the battle-ground
after all"
What particular conditions render the situa-
ton uncertaln9" he was asked.
'.There is close vote between the two great
parties, and the Democrats on coming into pow
er were met by a demand for Offices that could
not be supplied. Civil service made the situa-
ton perilous last year and it's effect was disas-
trous in this State where 1t has never been and
at.homa vote, making singularity in the cleo
ton in reducing the Congressional vote below
that cast for the State ticket This had not
Cured within twenty-five years. On the other
hand the Republicans brought out nearly their
full vote. The Democrats realize this and al
though antipathy to civil service has vet its in
luence they will go into the campaign much
better equipped and with more heart than last
year. Yet the overweening confidence that has
prevailed since New York went Democratic may
have injurious effect"
''Wil there be much of departure from the
civil service position the administration took at
its beginning7"
Civil service in some degree will be a per
manent feature in government employment
The heads of departments division and bureaus
will. of course be changed with the changes of
parties, but the classified service will doubtless
remain as it is, so far its general personnel is
concerned. The results are not altogether salts
factory and the rules need changing in some
particulars There ought to be no limit as to
age for applicants for examinations. and IN the
application of the rules as to selections by the
heads of departments there should be some
amendments. 1t has been demonstrated that
commi ssioners valuable adjunct to
government, and in the CiVil-service Commits
sion constituted the President has
ceeded admirably in his selections. Oberly may
have been regarded a politician, but he has
proved himself earnest and sincere In his work.
Edgerton is far away from political methods
a man can well be. He is politician and
never L regard the civil service as bene-
fit to the young men of the country. To those
who desire and obtain appoin tment it gives
freedom they would not have if they secured a
place through their Con gressmen On the other
hand, it will keep out of the rvice hundreds of
young men of talent and promise who might
otherwise waste their lives in department serv-
ice For year or two this service is good
schooling. but years OF it reduces man to
chine He will come in time to know nothing
except the work that belongs to his daily rou-
tine. It is for a clerk to mulate
money, and when old age reaches him he thas
nothing but his salary to depend on. There are
men in the departments who have come down
through long series of administrations, AMI
TO worldly goods they are just where they be-
gan. l advise young mon to keep out of the
government service unless they can obtain posi-
tions in some of the scientific bureaus. There
will never again be general distribution of the
minor grades of department positions to the ad-
herents Of the party that may come into power"